A CDA Perspective on Mental Health Discourse in the Entertainment Industry

Sarah Satar Abdulhusein

doi:10.53032/tvcr/2025.v7n3.03

Authors

Sarah Satar Abdulhusein Wasit University, College of Education for Human Sciences,University of Wasit https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5957-3468

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53032/tvcr/2025.v7n3.03

Keywords:

Mental Health, Entertainment Industry, Television, Media, Representation, Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

The present study explores mental health discourses within the entertainment industry through the perspective of Critical Discourse Analysis, with the purpose of discussing how mental health issues are narrated, formulated, and represented in popular television programmes. This paper fills the gap by analysing the representation of mental health in three most-viewed TV series: 13 Reasons Why, The Big Bang Theory, and BoJack Horseman. These shows depict mental health in a very different way: from adolescent struggles to complex adult issues, which makes them suitable for comparative analysis. The eclectic CDA model follows the embeddings of the elements of van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach and Fairclough's three-dimensional framework, adding Gee's analysis of discourse as social practice. The objectives of the study will be to identify the linguistic and narrative strategies through which mental health is represented, to analyse the ideological underpinning that informs such portrayals, and to examine the effects of such portrayals on audience understanding of issues about mental health. Because findings now strongly indicate that 13 Reasons Why sensationalizes mental health problems for dramatic effect, while The Big Bang Theory tends to lighten up rather serious issues through humor and stereotyping, BoJack Horseman does a more critical and nuanced analysis of the same via dark comedy. Each of these portrayals contributes toward a complex understanding of mental health in popular culture, inspiring both public discourse and societal attitudes. The study calls for an increase in responsible and realistic media representation of mental health.

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TV Series:

13 Reasons Why (2017–2020). Netflix.

Creator: Brian Yorkey

URL: https://www.netflix.com/title/80117470

The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019). CBS.

Creators: Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady

URL: https://www.cbs.com/shows/the-big-bang-theory/

BoJack Horseman (2014–2020). Netflix.

Creator: Raphael Bob-Waksberg